• For a cardio workout, a series of vitamin supplements are necessary.marathon runner image by Photosani from Fotolia.com
  
  Getting in shape is a personal goal many individuals take on at least once in their lives. If you're getting started in the world of fitness, there are a number of vitamins and supplements you should be taking, particularly if you'll be participating in cardio exercise like running, weight lifting or swimming.
  
  

Multivitamin

• If your body is deficient of even one necessary vitamin, your cardio workouts will be less effective because your body will be doing double work to make up for the nutrients you're missing. A good multivitamin once a day will ensure you've covered your bases and are receiving the proper daily intake of Vitamin C, B, E and B12, which support antibodies and help your body fight off infections and illnesses through your white blood cells. Take care to use the appropriate multivitamin for you, as some are designed for men and some are designed for women.
  
  

Creatine

• Creatine is a fitness supplement that works well for a cardio session that includes some mild to serious weightlifting. Creatine occurs naturally in the body and creates ATP, an energy source that muscles draw on to increase mass, making your workout sessions more effective. The supplement comes in several forms--pills, liquid or powders that you mix into drinks. Most forms can be found at local healthfood stores and you can experiment with the different types until you find the one that works best for you. Always take creatine after your workout, not before, as this is when it will do its best work for you.
  
  

Glutamine

• Glutamine is an amino acid in muscle tissue, and taking a glutamine supplement before your cardio workout will ensure your body recovers from intense stretching and weightlifting. It will also lessen the likelihood of injuring yourself while you work out and make those post-workout aches less painful when you're first starting out. Glutamine should always be taken before the cardio workout. It comes in pill form and can be found at most health food or nutrition stores.